The most beautiful roads in the world - the best routes for traveling by car. The most beautiful roads in the world - the best routes for traveling by car Stelvio Pass, Italy

We all know the endless discussions on the topics: "", "Who brews the most delicious beer?" or "Which company makes the best smartphones?" We are almost sure that you have probably discussed these three questions with your colleagues or friends. But have you ever wondered what the best driving road in the world is, in terms of the route itself and the surrounding scenery? Where do you think the most is located? We present to you the first scientific study on this issue.

A similar scientific study was conducted by Avis, which rents cars around the world. In order to find out which highway is the best in the world, they invited experts in various fields. So, in order to choose the best highway on the planet, Avis invited Mark Hadley, who is a quantum physicist. Also brought in as an expert were racetrack designer Herman Tilke and roller coaster designer John Worley.

The experts jointly developed a formula that includes assessments for various parameters for each pre-selected route. So the formula includes four main indicators: the beauty of the landscape, the number of curves (turns on the highway), the ability to accelerate in a straight line and the convenience of braking.

The experts gave their marks for each criterion. Next, the indicators were summarized. As a result, each route received a final score. Experts applied this formula to the 25 most famous and most beautiful roads in the world. In the end, the overall winner was the road in Portugal, which received the highest rating. The length of the route is 27 kilometers. This section of the road has 93 turns.

The road follows the Douro River, overlooking the surrounding hills and vineyards. This one is ideal for a tourist visit.

The best roads in the world

1st place: Route to Peso da Regua (Peso da Régua, Pinhão N-222)

93 curves over 27 kilometers + beautiful scenery

2nd place: Road from Big Sur, California, USA

36 turns on 74 kilometers of route + stunning scenery

3rd place: Route from Bad Urach that leads to Hohenzollern Castle

German roads are traditionally distinguished by their amazing quality and beautiful nature around them. But the road that leads to the famous fortress is the best in Germany and one of the best in the world.

4th place: A535 in the United Kingdom (England)

19 curves and bends of the road for 16 kilometers + amazing landscapes outside the window will not leave anyone indifferent.

5th place: Flüela Pass (pass in the Alps), Switzerland

The road has 27 curves over 28 kilometers

6th place: A road in Austria that starts in the city of Spiez and ends in the city of Krems an der Donau

35 curves and 20 long straight lines for maximum acceleration. The length of the road is 35 kilometers.

7th place: B3135 road, which goes from the city of Cherder to the village of Ashwick (UK)

23 kilometers of amazing impressions: 22 curves and beautiful.

8th place: Route in Germany that starts from Titisee-Neustadt and goes to Bad Krozingen

The road passes through the L126 highway and includes 55 curves over a distance of 61 km

9th place: Great Ocean Road, Australia. Passes through the rock complex "12 Apostles"

The length of the road is 85 km. 48 turns and 8 long stretches of road for .

10th place: Karamea Highway in New Zealand

Rounding out the TOP 10 best roads in the world is the road that originates in the city of Karamea, on the South Island of New Zealand. The length of the road is 54 kilometers.

11th place: ALP-822 highway in Spain, which originates in the city of San José

13 curves and 30 straight sections of road over 24 kilometers.

12th place: Highway N-634 in Spain

Another beautiful highway in Spain made it into the final rating. Along the 22 kilometers of the route you will encounter 22 winding sections where you can enjoy the most beautiful scenery.

13th place: Highway N-247, which originates in the city of Sintra, Portugal

The length of the road is 12 km. On your way there will be 24 turns and 25 straight sections.

14th place: Highway HU-631 in Spain

Another road that every car enthusiast who visits Spain should drive along.

15th: Road N-267 from Sao Marcos da Serra, Portugal

Drivers within a distance of 35 kilometers will encounter 84 curved sections along the way, where they can slow down and enjoy the landscapes and beautiful places of Portugal.

16th: Chugushi Romantic Highway, Japan

A great place to visit a large waterfall. In order to get to this place, you will have to drive through the picturesque places of the Chugushi area. On your way there will be 34 curved sections of the road where you can slow down or stop to take beautiful pictures.

17th place: Road in France D81, which originates in the village of Piana and leads to Porto

If you find yourself on the island of Corsica in France, be sure to visit the D81 highway to enjoy the amazing views of the island. On your 39 kilometer route you will encounter 33 curved sections of the road.

18th place: Italian route from Portofino Portofino to Vetta. 61 turns. Unfortunately, the road is very short and is only 13 km long.

19th: 16 km mountain road at Lysebotn Road, Norway

The road leads to the village of Lysebotn, which is visited by 100,000 people annually for recreation and parachute jumping. The route is only open in summer.

20th place: Amalfi Coast, Italy

Over a 17-kilometer section, the road bends 75 times and has 37 straight sections.

21st place: Tail of the Dragon Highway in North Carolina, USA

This American Highway is called the Tail of the Dragon. If you are an adrenaline junkie, then this US highway is the best place for thrills. The length of the route is 15 kilometers.

22nd place: A-591, UK from Kendal to Keswick

The length of the road is 47 kilometers. On your way you will encounter some curves.

23rd place: Route de Napoleon, France

This road was opened in 1932, which follows the route taken by Emperor Napoleon during his 100-day trek to Golfe-Juan and ends in Waterloo.

24th: National Route 40, Argentina

A route in western Argentina stretching from Punta Loyola near Rio Gallegos in the province of Santa Cruz in the south to La Quiaca in the province of Jujuy in the north, which runs parallel to the Andes Mountains. Length 112 kilometers. Along the road you will encounter 32 curved sections and 16 long straight lines of road.

25th place: Florida Keys Highway, USA

This highway links a chain of coral islands and reefs in the southeastern United States. This 87-kilometer highway has only 3 curved sections of road. However, despite this, the Florida Keys Highway is a great place to travel by car, especially for tourists. You will never see such beauty of ocean landscapes from a car window anywhere else.

In conclusion, we would like to note that our country also has many beautiful roads that run through the most beautiful places in Russia. Unfortunately, foreign experts did not include more than one Russian highway in the final rating. But the roads of our country are a separate issue. Therefore, we will soon publish the Russian rating of the most beautiful.

A faithful iron horse and a smooth strip of asphalt under the wheels - what else could an avid travel lover dream of? However, sometimes you can close your eyes even to the absence of the second one, in the case when the beauty of nature spreading on the sides and in front covers all the inconveniences from road irregularities.

You've probably seen more than once selections of the most beautiful roads from around the world and dreamed of driving along them someday. But few people know that there are truly picturesque routes in Russia. Connecting the most remote regions of our country, they run through dense forests, endless steppes and harsh taiga. Try to drive along each of them, and for the rest of your life you will provide yourself with unforgettable impressions of the views of the landscapes surrounding these routes.

1. Highway M-18 “Kola”

The R-21 (M-18) “Kola” route originates in St. Petersburg and stretches to the village of Borisoglebsky on the very border with Norway. The further north the road goes, the more beautiful the landscape around it becomes: the taiga with pine and spruce trees gradually gives way to forest-tundra, and there are many serpentines, passes and lakes of glacial origin. And ahead, the Khibiny Mountains emerge more and more clearly in the haze.

2. Karelia. Road A-135

The A-135 Kem - Kalevala - Lonka road begins in the city of Kem, located on the shores of the White Sea, and ends at the checkpoint on the Russian-Finnish border. Unpaved sections of the road with “blind” turns, unexpected hills behind which oncoming traffic is absolutely invisible, and much more can be forgiven for this road just by looking at the opening views of forest thickets and lakes.

3. Kalmykia. Road Volgograd – Elista – Stavropol

Everyone should definitely take a look at this route. In the spring of April-May, the lifeless steppe that stretches along the sides of the highway (to be honest, in some places it is in terrible condition) transforms literally before our eyes and amazes with a riot of colors. A fantastically colored carpet of herbs fills the air with the aroma of countless blooming tulips.

4. Western Caucasus. Route A-147

The federal highway M-27 Dzhubga - Adler is one of the most beautiful roads in our country. The closer you are to the sea, the more picturesque views of mountains, serpentines, vineyards, beaches and other landscapes of the Krasnodar region open up.

5. Georgian Military Road A-161

The “Heavenly Gorge Road,” completed at the end of the 18th century, played a major role in the development of economic ties between Russia and Transcaucasia. It runs through the Main Caucasus Range and connects Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia with the capital and largest city of Georgia - Tbilisi. The road passes through numerous passes and suddenly descends steeply into the gorge of the Aragvi River. Along the entire length of the route there are Georgian cathedrals, fortresses and watchtowers.

6. Kabardino-Balkaria. Route A-158

The A-158 “Baksan – Elbrus” road, if you haven’t been on it yet, will definitely give you a lot of new impressions. The route crosses the Kabardian Valley and passes through the narrow Baksan Gorge. Then, having overcome a climb of almost 2.5 thousand meters, you will find yourself almost at the foot of the famous Elbrus volcano.

7. Northern Urals. Serovsky tract

Rolling through the forested Ural Mountains, paving the way between rivers and swamps, the Serovsky Highway rushes from Yekaterinburg north to the city of Serov. To Nizhny Tagil, the road consists of two separate one-way roads. Sometimes they diverge quite far from each other, separated by forests and mountains, and near Tagil they finally converge into one narrow route.

8. Mountain Altai. Highway M-52

The Chuysky tract is the main transport artery of Altai and at the same time one of the most beautiful roads in Russia. The route runs through the entire Altai Mountains, showing local landscapes in all their splendor. The road winds its way all the way to the border with Mongolia and, gradually, alpine meadows and snow-capped mountain peaks give way to deserted, boundless steppes that will take your breath away.

9. Khakassia. Highway M-54

The section of the M-54 highway from Abakan, the capital of the Republic of Khakassia, to Kyzyl and further to the border with Mongolia is known under the historical name of the Usinsky tract. The road runs through the pristine wild, almost untouched by man, Sayan Mountains, in places descending into the almost bare steppe. The contrast is amazing!

10. Kamchatka. Road Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Ust-Kamchatsk

The Kamchatka Peninsula is a unique area on the map of Russia. This is a zone of modern volcanism; there are 30 active volcanoes and about 300 extinct ones. Unfortunately, most of the picturesque places in Kamchatka are extremely difficult to get to due to the almost complete absence of roads. The main Kamchatka route, 600 km long from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Ust-Kamchatsk, passes next to Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the highest volcano in Eurasia (4750 m).

There is no better way to get to know a country than to drive its roads in person. Freedom of movement and independence depends only on us, because we built the route ourselves! When traveling, a country opens up with all its pros and cons, and this is also a very valuable experience.

We are used to traveling by car in Russia, because we have our own car. When do you travel abroad? There's nothing complicated. You just need to rent a car from one of the large rental companies, choosing the option that suits you. We did this in the USA, in Thailand and in many other countries. We also rented a motorbike more than once - in Cambodia. Myanmar, Laos and even.

Related articles:

To rent a car, you should know in advance how many days you will be traveling for. This means you need to create a travel itinerary. It is precisely these routes along the most beautiful roads in the world that I will tell you about.

I’ll start with the most beautiful roads I’ve personally tested, which we’ve already driven ourselves. And then I’ll tell you about those that we hope to conquer in our next travels. And, of course, I will simply list the most interesting roads in the world, which are considered very beautiful according to many travelers.

1. Grand Circle in the southwestern United States

One of the most unforgettable trips in the USA is a trip to the Wild West and through the national parks of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and California. Here you can see the most unimaginable geological wonders: stone bridges and huge monuments standing in the middle of the desert, vast, fabulous, unforgettable hikes among the hoodoos and the lowest and driest place in the States - the Badwater salt marsh in Death Valley.

Utah National Parks + Grand Canyon

• Route 1: from Los Angeles (or from Las Vegas) through national parks and natural attractions of the USA (3500 km / 2 weeks):
  • Monument Valley

• Route 2: from Las Vegas through Utah National Parks - The Mighty 5 (1700 km / 5 days)
  • Zion
  • Bryce Canyon
  • Canyonlands

Helpful advice: if you include some, such as and, in your travel itinerary, then your tour of the USA will be even more grandiose.

Read more:

Zion Park - part of the Grand Circle

2. From Los Angeles to San Francisco on Highway 1 along the Pacific Ocean (Pacific Coast Highway)

The most beautiful road in California along the Pacific coast, Route 1, Pacific Highway, Pacific Coast Highway - all this is the dream of any romantic. Take a breeze along the ocean, passing legendary beaches and small California towns. Would you dare? We do!

• Route: — — — — — — —
• Mileage: 1055 km
• When to go: in spring (to catch wild flowers blooming), summer or early autumn.
• Duration of the trip: 3 days
• Attractions: , Bixby Bridge and another beautiful road - on the Pacific coast in Monterey.

More details about the route:

On the beaches of Malibu on the Pacific Coast Highway

3. Drive a car around the island of Oahu in Hawaii (O’ahu Scenic Drive)

Oahu is the capital island of the state of Hawaii, where most of the tourists fly. And yet, the island is desperately beautiful and there is a lot to see. The main thing is not to relax too long on the main beach of Waikiki, but rather take a car and go explore the island. Fly.

• Route: from Honolulu - anywhere.
• When to go: good time in high season (December to March), but it is better to go in the off-season: from mid-April to mid-June and from September to mid-December. I went just at the beginning of June and I confirm: there are not very many people, and the weather is excellent!
• Duration of the trip: 4-6 days
• Beautiful roads: Pali Highway (Hwy 61), Kamehameha Highway (Hwy 83), Kalaniana'ole Highway (Hwy 72)
• Attractions:(Diamond Head), Kailua Beach Park, Kualoa Regional Park, Waimea Bay, old Nu'uanu pali cliff road.

Old road to the Nu'uanu pali cliff on the island of Oahu, Hawaii

4. Mae Hong Son Loop in Thailand (Mae Hong Son Loop)

Thailand has long been a mecca for beach holidays. But is it possible to see the real Thailand on the beaches? No. For cultural pleasure, you need to go to the north, where authentic life remains. We lived here for a long time and therefore I talk about it with special love.

Driving a rented car around Northern Thailand

• Route: - Pai - Mae Hong Son - Mae Sariang - Chiang Mai.
• Mileage: 600 km
• When to go: December - February, during the cool season.
• Duration of the trip: from 3 to 5 days
• Beautiful roads: mountain road 1095 from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son (762 turns), highways 107 and 108.
• Attractions: numerous hot springs in the city, Tam Lod cave in Soppong, tea village, temples in, WWII museum in, Tung Bua Thong sunflower field, the highest waterfall in Thailand, national park

Read more:

Authentic Northern Thailand. Chiang Mai city

Viewpoint along Road 1095 along Mae Hong Son Loop

5. Canadian Rockies & Lakes

We have already visited the Rocky Mountains of the United States - we went to the national park and were amazed by the pure beauty of nature in , so now we want to see what is there on the other side of the border. I constantly see Canadian photos with lakes and mountains everywhere. And what beautiful roads there are!

So this part of Canada is a must-visit, and I’ve already prepared. I offer you two options for routes that will take you not only through the mountains, but also through prairies and picturesque valleys with clear lakes.

Moraine Lake in Canada

Route 1 in the Canadian Rockies in the states of British Columbia and Alberta:

• Journey: Calgary – Banff – Lake Louise – Jasper – Edmonton – Elk Island National Park – Calgary
• Mileage: 1200 km
• When to go: summer or early autumn. In autumn, colorful colors appear, but the number of tourists in the parks, on the contrary, decreases
• Duration of the trip: 1 Week
• Attractions: Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake.

Route 2 across Canada's badlands, prairies and lakes from Calgary to Toronto:

• Journey: Calgary – Drumheller – Dinosaur Provincial Park – Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump – Moose Jaw – Regina – Saskatoon – Winnipeg – Thunder Bay – Algonquin Park – Sault Ste. Marie – Wawa – Toronto
• Mileage: 4500 km
• When to go: also in summer or early autumn
• Duration of the trip: 2 – 3 weeks

If you combine both of these routes, you can generally travel around Canada for 3.5 weeks or even a whole month. By the way, entrance to Canada's national parks is paid and it is more convenient to buy a pass in advance (like) on the Parks Canada website.

6. Australian Outback

Seeing the deserts of Australia has been my long-time dream! As soon as I saw Mount Uluru while flipping through a magazine and reading an article about the wonders of nature, I realized that I wanted to visit Australia primarily for this amazing geological formation, which is located in the very heart of the Southern continent.

Map of beautiful roads in Australia: Alice Springs - Kings Canyon - Uluru

• Route: Alice Springs – King’s Canyon – Uluru – Alice Springs
• Mileage: 1200 km
• When to go: March to May (ideally April) to avoid heat, rain and crowds of tourists.
• Duration of the trip: 5-7 days
• Attractions: Uluru, The Olgas (Kata Tjuta) mountains, beautiful sunsets, kangaroos and dingoes

Great Ocean Road in Australia

7. Great Ocean Road

Another reason to come to Australia is the Great Ocean Road in Victoria from Torquay ( Torquay) to Allansford ( Allansford) along the edge of the Southern Continent. This scenic road, built in 1932, is considered an Australian national treasure.

• Mileage: 243 km.
• When to go: Australian summer or autumn (November to March)
• Duration of the trip: 2-3 days
• Attractions: Port Campbell National Park and its highlights - the Twelve Apostles rocks, Shipwreck Coast, Loch Ard Gorge, The Grotto.

8. Dalton Highway in Alaska

A journey beyond the Arctic Circle through wild Alaska, from south to north. We have already traveled to the very north of Russia, to the Murmansk region and saw the Arctic Ocean. Now I want to make the same journey through Alaska, the largest and most uninhabited state in the USA. Besides, I already managed to visit, and it was very interesting, so I want to resume my adventures in Alaska!

Dorona Dalton Highway is the route from Fairbanks to Deadhorse, but it is more convenient to fly into Anchorage and drive from there.

Road from Anchorage to northern Alaska

• Route: Anchorage - Fairbanks - Deadhorse
• Mileage: 1400 one way
• When to go: in summer, and better in August, during the polar nights. By the way, the northern lights can also be seen starting in August.
• Duration of the trip: 5 days for travel + time for national parks (from 3 to 6 days).
• Attractions: Denali National Park with the highest mountain in the USA, Gateway to the Arctic National Park, Arctic Circle Sign.

Chuisky Trakt. Altai, Russia

Here are some more beautiful roads where you can go on your own by car:

• Chuysky tract- the most beautiful road in Russia in Altai. My friend rode it on a bicycle and says that she has never seen more beautiful expensive ones;
• Atlantic Road in Norway— road along the islands through the sea;
• Road through the Pampas in Argentina— along road 40 from the very north to the south.

And these are roads that you can’t drive your own cars yet, but you need to book a tour:

• Pamir Highway— from Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan
• Altiplano of Bolivia- from the largest salt marsh in the world along volcanoes and picturesque lagoons with flamingos.

TOP 10 most beautiful roads in the world

Climb mountains, raft along stormy streams, wander narrow historical streets or plow the oceans on a yacht - everyone chooses their own way to explore their home planet. However, mountaineering, rafting, yachting - all these types of sports tourism require certain skills and experience. Therefore, if you are not a fan of traveling on your own, a trip by car to picturesque areas will be the ideal compromise for you.

Truly, the Earth is replete with unique, breathtaking and simply unimaginable places that you can drive around in a car with the wind and your favorite music. The main thing is to stock up on fuel, because the journey will be long...

We bring to your attention 10 of the most beautiful, sometimes dangerous, but certainly worthy of your attention roads, a trip along which will turn into an unforgettable adventure. Let's start, as expected, from 10th place.

10. Big Gate Road, China

Great Gate, or Road to Heaven in China, located in Hunan Province. This highway is called Big Gate Road, but it is more commonly called the road of 99 turns, since nine is a lucky number in China, symbolizing heaven and 9 palaces.

The highway stretches for 10 kilometers. Its maximum point is at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. The road took 8 years to build and was completed in 2006.

If the winding and height of the path scares you, and you are afraid to travel along it by bus or car, there is an alternative. A magnificent cable car, almost 8 kilometers long, is laid to the very top of the mountain, one of the longest cable cars in the world.

9. Atlantic Road, Norway








Norway has the Atlantic Road, which consists of several bridges. Its opening took place in 1989. This canvas would be unremarkable if not for the Storseisundet bridge, unique in its architecture. Locals call it the “drunken bridge” or simply “the road to nowhere.”

The bridge is built in such a way that at a certain angle, when you approach it from the mainland, the illusion is created that there is no bridge at all - it seems that it is a huge springboard. The section of the bridge located above the strait is raised 23 meters from sea level, and the length of the bridge itself is 260 meters.

The unusual architecture of the bridge is, first of all, caused by the need to ensure the passage of ships under it, and secondly, by the desire of the architect to create a unique object to attract tourists.

8. Blue Ridge Parkway, Northern California, USA








The Blue Ridge Parkway in Northern California is also called “God's Highway North.” This is one of the most beautiful roads in the United States, it runs through the Apalachian Mountains, its length is almost 750 km. If you love winding roads, leisurely driving and want to enjoy the beauty of the nature around you, then this road is for you.

Part of the road passes through the state of North Carolina, where the highest point of the trip and one of the Smoky Mountain National Parks is located. It ends with the “Tail of the Dragon”, a unique road with 386 turns over 17 km.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a delight for any traveler. It connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. No guide to the best roads would be complete without mentioning this amazing boulevard.

7. The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road, UAE








Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road - this road stretches from the icy waters of the North Atlantic into the heart of the scorching desert along a mountain 1249 meters above sea level, which offers stunning views throughout the entire route.

The mountain road was built in such a way as to make it possible to drive up the highest mountain in the UAE - Jebel Hafeet. Administratively, the mountain belongs to the city of Al Ain. It has an 11.7 km road that has 60 bends and corners, which, however, does not pose any problem for cars - like most large-scale projects in a country that does not have problems with financing, Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road represents the latest achievement engineering thought. The quality of the road does not cause the slightest criticism, and the perfectly smooth asphalt can shock any foreigner.

6. The Overseas Highway, Florida, USA








Do you love the ocean? In Florida, you can literally drive across the surface of the water - this was made possible by the Overseas Highway, built directly above the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. In 1938, a railroad passed through here, then it was destroyed by a hurricane. The highway now connects the islands in southwest Florida. Several bridges cross the road.

The roadway is 113 miles (approximately 180 kilometers) long, one of the longest highways in the world, connecting the islands to the mainland.

For three unforgettable hours you can enjoy the unique views of the ocean from the windows of your car. The view here is especially stunning at sunrise or sunset.

5. Combe Laval, France








The Combe Laval Road offers motorists 13 kilometers of breathtaking alpine scenery at the dizzying heights of the French Alps. It was built back in 1897 to transport timber, and today the road is a major attraction for cyclists who brave the steep climbs.

The most spectacular section of the road stretches between St. Jean-en-Royans and Col de la Machine. Here you crash into a rock almost at the edge of the cliff, and then go through a series of narrow and short tunnels. Almost 13 kilometers of luxurious alpine beauty and dizzying heights.

4. Red Rock Scenic Road, Arizona, USA







It is called the Quiet Road of the Red Rocks. Beginning in Sedona and ending in Oak Creek, Arizona, the highway passes through amazing scenery: monolithic red rock formations stretch up and into the distance as far as the eye can see.

Travel through the Red Rock Country along one of the most beautiful roads in America - Red Rock Scenic Road.

3. Canning Stock Route, Australia








The Canning Stock Route in Australia is one of the most deserted roads in the world. The road, stretching for 1850 km, crosses the Small Sandy Desert from north to east and is of great interest to tourists who prefer an exciting safari on hardy off-road vehicles to measured trips.

The construction of the track began here in 1906 for cattle transportation. The road took 4 years to build; the most difficult part was installing wells along its entire length. Today the route, which takes about three weeks to complete, is used only by tourists.

If you're one of those daredevils who can handle the mountains, when setting out on a trip along the Canning Stock Route, make sure to stock up on provisions and fuel, as there are only a few Aboriginal communities available for purchase along the way.

2. Karakoram Highway, Pakistan








The Karakoram Highway is the highest road in the world, and also one of the most dangerous. The highway passes through the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which has been a bone of contention between Pakistan and India since the late 1940s. Most of the route is devoid of road surface (on average 30-40 m of asphalt per 10-20 km of road), in addition, drivers are threatened by avalanches and blockages on the passes.

The 1,300 km long route connects Pakistani Islamabad with Chinese Kashgar. It began to be built back in 1966 along a route repeating a section of the Great Silk Road (in ancient times and the Middle Ages, a caravan road connecting East Asia with the Mediterranean). The laying took 21 years, costs amounted to $3 billion, and of the 25 thousand engineers and workers involved in construction, about 1000 died.

The photo you see just below the title was taken during the second landslide, which occurred near the village of Attabad in northern Pakistan, on January 22, 2010. The first landslide, which occurred on January 4, blocked the flow of the Hunza River.

1. Tuktoyaktuk Road, Canada








In summer, the Tuktoyaktuk Ice Road, which runs along the bed of a frozen river and connects remote corners of Canada with civilization, simply does not exist. It mystically appears only after the Mackenzie Delta River and the Arctic Ocean are frozen in ice. At any other time of the year, you can only sail on a boat or soar over the water surface on an airplane...

The sea road extends for 130 km and connects the northwestern Canadian cities of Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. The path is dotted with cracks in the ice and ice ridges, and is absolutely teeming with dangers.

If the car gets stuck in a snowdrift or breaks down, and help does not arrive in time, the driver has every chance of turning into his own monument made of ice. Here you can also fall into icy water, from which it will be difficult to get out, given that the ice is 2.5 meters thick!

Well, are you ready to hit the road yet? I recommend visiting the trails in the order in which they are located in the top. After all, the further into the forest, the more wolves. First, gain impressions on easier routes, enjoy the beauty of more moderate ones, gain experience, and then you can move on to heavier weights.

Have fun with your travels, lots of impressions and bon voyage!

Independent car and motorcycle trips are becoming an increasingly popular form of recreation. We have selected for you the ten most interesting roads on four continents that can be a good reason to travel.

1. On the edge of the abyss. France: Verdon Gorge

The Grand Canyon, but not in the USA? Rocky gorge, but not in the desert? Whatever the Verdon Gorge is called, the fact remains that today it is the largest canyon in all of Europe: its length is 25 kilometers and its depth reaches 700 meters! Although the Verdon Gorge is inferior in scale to the Arizona canyon, it clearly surpasses it in beauty: in spring and summer, trees and shrubs cover the slopes with a thick layer, grazing only in front of the steepest cliffs. It will take a whole day to go around the gorge, although there are only a hundred kilometers. But they all consist entirely of bends, descents and ascents, man-made tunnels and passages under rocks hanging overhead and hiding the sky. The most beautiful views of the gorge open from the old Cretan road, or Cretan loop (Route des Cretes, D23), built in ancient times and passing along the northern edge of the canyon. This narrow winding path comes close to the cliff in places. Along its edges there are observation platforms, each of which offers breathtaking views of the Verdon. The Cretan loop is considered one-way: you need to drive along it clockwise, starting from the town of Castellane towards the artificial lake of Sainte-Croix, which was formed after the construction of a dam in 1975. You can swim in the lake and spend a few contemplative hours in the shade of the trees with wine and a crispy French baguette. The Luberon Nature Reserve is located 100 kilometers from the Verdon Park. It’s worth visiting here to admire the leisurely village life and visit the ruins of one of the castles of the famous Marquis de Sade.

2. High in the mountains. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan: Pamir Highway

Travelers are always attracted to places marked “the very best”: the northernmost point of Europe, the westernmost point of Russia, the highest mountain, the deepest depression. The Pamir Highway is one of these places. After all, it is the highest mountain road in the territory of the former USSR. This almost entirely dirt road climbs the spurs of the Pamir Mountains and passes through the three main mountain passes of the Pamirs: Taldyk (3615 m), Kyzyl-Art (4280 m) and the closest point to the “Roof of the World” – Akbaital Pass (4655 m). The eastern part of the tract - from the Kyrgyz city of Osh to the Tajik Khorog - was built in 1931-1934, when the USSR was actively developing the territory of the mountain Pamirs. It passes through green foothills where horses graze and lonely yurts and dung-smeared huts stand, and past the Pamir National Park, dominated by Lenin Peak (7134 m).

AWL Images/Fotodom The Pamir Highway is open to travel only in warm weather - in winter there is a high risk of avalanches.

One of the most exciting stops along the way is Lake Karakul, the largest in Tajikistan, located at an altitude of 3914 meters above sea level. From here begins a steep climb to the spurs of the great Pamirs. Rocks, gorges, tunnels, dirt road, dust, lack of vegetation, rare villages and flocks of sheep - this almost Martian landscape stretches all the way down to the valley on the Tajik side. Your companions all this time will be trucks, donkeys and jeeps, crammed inside and hung with luggage outside. Turning off the road, you can visit several more interesting places: the villages of local residents, the “Farewell to Youth” pass, the Yamchun fortress of fire worshipers, the Bibi Fatima hot springs and much more.

3. From north to south. USA: Dalton Highway

The Dalton Highway is 666 kilometers of dirt road that crosses almost halfway across Alaska from north to south. The route was built in 1974 to deliver cargo to the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and service the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. And it was named in honor of engineer James Dalton, a specialist in Arctic construction. On a motorcycle or some overly voracious car, one must go here with caution: on the entire highway between Fairbanks, 100 kilometers from where it begins, and Deadhorse, where it ends, there are only two gas stations: at the Yukon River crossing and in Coldfoot (400 km from Fairbanks), so it is better to immediately take with you the necessary supply of gasoline, as well as tires, tools, food and other essentials. Medical care is also only available in Coldfoot or Deadhorse. This is Alaska, gentlemen! A harsh and, at first glance, unfriendly land that will only give a prepared and responsible traveler an unforgettable experience and reveal its riches. Alaska really has something to share: the largest US state is still almost unspoilt by civilization; on its territory there are 23 (!) national parks and reserves. Through some of them: the White Mountains, the National Arctic Wildlife Refuge, nature reserves on the banks of the Yukon River, the Gates of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge - the Dalton Highway passes through, sometimes getting lost in a flat snow-covered or grassy plain, sometimes winding between surrounding on all sides by forested mountains. Another obligatory ritual for all travelers driving along the highway is to take a photo in front of the sign indicating the Arctic Circle.

4. To the homeland of Dracula. Romania: Transfagarasan Highway

When planning the construction of a high-altitude highway through the Fagaras massif in 1970, the last thing on Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu's mind was creating an attractive tourist route. Concerned about the events in Czechoslovakia, he feared a military invasion of the country and therefore decided to connect the regions of Wallachia and Transylvania with an inaccessible mountain road for the speedy transfer of military equipment. Now Transfagaras is one of the rare examples of how an object created for military purposes becomes famous throughout the world and attracts many tourists to the country. The 261-kilometer-long highway passes through picturesque valleys and fields of wheat, which Romanians sometimes still reap by hand, past lakes and reservoirs, through cute Romanian villages with identical dark stone houses. Not far from the start of the highway is the pretty town of Sibiu, with classic Romanian architecture and, like the Romanian language, a mixture of Latin, Romanesque and Slavic heritage. Almost every village along the way has an Orthodox church, a church, and a mosque. And in the town of Curtea de Arges you can admire the cathedral with stunning carvings and stucco on the walls. Count Dracula awaits travelers on the Transylvanian side of the Carpathians. It is found everywhere: in the names of streets, restaurants and hotels, in souvenir shops, in ancient castles. One of them, Poenari Castle, towering over the canyon of the Arges River, belonged to Prince Vlad II Tepes in the 15th century, who became the prototype of the famous Dracula. The other is Bran Castle a little away from the Transfagarasan Highway, where Count Dracula never visited, but where he was “settled” by the writer Bram Stoker, thanks to whom the world learned about Dracula.

5. The expanses of Altai. Russia: Chuysky tract

This ancient road is the first line that connected Russia and China many centuries ago. Driving along the Chuysky tract is like crossing the whole of Russia. The path begins in Biysk, with birch groves and villages, in one of which the writer Vasily Shukshin was born. And after a hundred kilometers, once you pass Gorno-Altaisk, it seems as if you are in the times of the development of Siberia: the stormy waters of the Katun, rocky gorges and green valleys. The mountain taiga begins. Turn left and you will get to Lake Teletskoye, right - to the foot of Belukha, where Roerich looked for Shambhala on his way to the Himalayas. And if you drive straight all the time, you will see the Kurai steppe at the foot of the North Chuysky ridge. If you wish, you can drive a few kilometers and walk up to the eternal snow. In the Kurai steppe there are the last islands of the taiga, and already beyond the pass the real steppe begins, where nomadic yurts stand and camel caravans roam. You shouldn’t plan such a trip for a week, because every turn is a reason for a separate short trip. Mentions of the current Chuisky tract, formerly called Mungalsky, can be found in Chinese sources dating back thousands of years. From then until the beginning of the 20th century, it was simply a mountain path used by merchants and pilgrims going to the sacred tree in the upper reaches of the Katun River. The wheeled road from Ongudai to Kosh-Agach (255 km) was built only in 1903. Today, the Chuysky tract is one of the few roads in the world that has been awarded its own museum. It is located in the building of the Biysk Museum of Local Lore - here you can see archival documents and photographs, a three-dimensional model of the road, paintings and dioramas.

6. Visit the trolls. Norway: Atlantic Road

The Atlantic Road (No. 64) goes almost along the ocean itself, jumping from island to island with the help of bridges and tunnels. This is a unique technological structure: the route is only 8.5 kilometers long - as many as six bridges! The main one is the Storseisundet Bridge, which is also called the “Bridge to Heaven”. If you approach it from the mainland, it seems as if the road surface breaks off at the highest point and the traveler can only jump straight into the sky. The impression is intensified if you drive along the Atlantic Road in the fall, when the storm season begins: huge waves roll onto small islands, crash against bridge supports with a roar, and sometimes cover the entire road, trying to lick the cars driving along it. However, the Atlantic Road is only part of the route along the fjords. Moving along it further towards Oslo, you will come to one of the most famous serpentines in Europe - the Trollstigen (Trollstigen) climbing the mountainside. Harmful trolls often curtain their stairs with thick fog, but this makes the serpentine even more beautiful: gray stones and bizarrely shaped rocks, densely overgrown with lush bright green grass and moss, appear through the “milk”. At the top of the mountain, visibility sometimes drops to 3–5 meters: it is all the more interesting to see sheep suddenly appearing from the fog, black lakes and numerous pyramids of stones built by tourists, and maybe even the trolls themselves... If you drive even further along Route 63 ( and there is almost nowhere to escape from it), you will come to one of the most beautiful fjords in Norway - Geiranger. Here you can admire the numerous waterfalls, fish or just wander around the surrounding area.

7. Stand above the clouds. China: Great Gate Road

The Chinese are famous not only for their hard work and perseverance (the Great Wall of China alone is worth it!), but also for their love of symbols, signs and numbers. Therefore, even a person far from Asian culture will not be able to simply drive along the “Big Gate Road”. The fact is that this road is one of the steepest serpentines in the world in every sense. She climbs Tianmen Mountain, which is located 8 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie in southeast China. This asphalt ribbon, only 11 kilometers long, rises to a height of 1300 meters, making 99 turns along the way! For the Chinese, the number 9 is sacred: it is the number of the emperor, as well as the number of palaces that, according to legend, await a person in heaven. That is why the road to Tianmen is also called the “Road to Heaven.”

Age/East News In China, traditional boats are still a popular means of transportation.

The main attraction of the route is the Heavenly Gate cave. It was formed in the 3rd century, when a huge block broke off from the rock. The 131.5 meter high "Gate" is often completely shrouded in fog. Local residents believe that by passing through them, you can truly go to heaven. But to earn this right, you have to work hard. There are several ways to get to the cave. The easiest is to drive a car or a tourist bus, the more extreme is to make an “express climb” in a sports car with a professional racing driver at the wheel, and the most difficult is to climb an impressive staircase with 999 steps. If you want a truly breathtaking experience, you should climb to the top on the world’s longest funicular (7455 meters!) - from its windows you can see views of the entire winding line of the road.

8. Through the pampas. Argentina: Route 40

Route No. 40 (Ruta 40) crosses almost the entirety of Argentina from north to south and runs along the high Andean ridges. This is one of the longest roads in the world: 5000 kilometers is no joke! Especially if they pass through several climate zones. The landscape around is constantly changing: forests, rocks, lakes, fields, meadows, deserts, almost uninhabited pampas, asphalt and gravel, dust and red sand, sun and knocking wind, 27 mountain passes, 18 large rivers, and finally 20 national parks, in each of which you can spend several days. For example, in Los Glaciares Park, listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, you can visit the Perito Moreno Glacier, which contains the third largest reserve of fresh water in the world. Its area is quite comparable to the area of ​​the entire Buenos Aires, while the glacier is in constant motion, changing its location by an average of 2 meters every day. You can admire it both from observation platforms and by going for a walk directly on the ice crumbs, accompanied by a climber. The same road will lead to the famous “Cave of Hands” (Cueva de las Manos), where all the walls are dotted with prints of human palms and images of hunting scenes, the oldest of which date back to the ninth millennium BC. The second largest national park in Argentina, Calchaqi Walley, deserves special attention, where you can go from mountain deserts to subtropical forest in one day - the climate changes so dramatically on one relatively small piece of land. And, of course, it’s worth driving along Ruta 40 to be impressed by the “Martian” desert landscapes and see the flamingos living on the lakes of Patagonia.

9. Colorado Plateau. USA: Great Circle

The American Wild West is the territory west of the Rocky Mountains. When the pioneers first began to explore the Indian territories, they came across unique natural attractions that they could not appreciate. Today this area is called the “Grand Circle”. The name came from the bus tour, which was called the Grand Circle Tour. The most convenient way to travel from Denver is to first go up to the Rocky Mountain National Park, where the Colorado River begins, and then continue through Aspen to the Colorado Plateau. On the way, it is worth seeing Arches Park (arches.national-park.com) and the famous Monument Valley in the territory of the Navajo Indians. Near the town of Page, you can't miss the inconspicuous Antelope Canyon - there will be a simple wooden sign on the side of the road with the appropriate inscription. It’s also worth going on a boat trip on Lake Powell; fortunately, you can rent a boat. Just south of Page begins the famous Grand Canyon (grandcanyon.com). If you drive along its southern part, then in addition to views of the canyon you will be able to catch a preserved piece of the first trans-American Route 66 (illinoisroute66.org) from Chicago to Los Angeles. Here it’s worth turning again towards the Grand Canyon and living on a real ranch (grandcanyonranch.com). And only then go to the Hoover Dam - a giant monument from the era of the 30s of the last century, from where the direct path to Las Vegas begins. This way you will cross the Great Circle from east to west, visiting four states - Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. You won’t be able to see all the beauty of the Grand Circle in one trip—after all, the Colorado Plateau has the largest concentration of parks in the United States—so be prepared to come back here again.

10. Along the edge of the continent. Australia: Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is 243 kilometers long and runs along the Pacific coast of Australia. The road has no practical significance - it was built by soldiers returning from the First World War as a monument to the victims of the battles. After its opening in 1932, the road became the largest war memorial in the world, and thirty years later it was recognized as one of the most picturesque on the planet. And for good reason: the route runs almost along the very coast, offering views of endless expanses of water and quiet, secluded lagoons. Among the main attractions along the way is the mysterious Shipwreck Coast, where 638 ships have crashed. And the “Twelve Apostles” is a group of limestone rocks standing separately in the ocean up to 45 meters high. In fact, there are only eight rocks here, and until recently they were called nothing more than “Pig and Pigs.” The poetic name “Twelve Apostles” appeared simply to attract tourists. Another rock about 20 million years old, the Arch of London, has a similar story. For a long time it was called “London Bridge” for its amazing resemblance to the Tower Bridge, and in 1990, when the span closest to the mainland collapsed under the pressure of ocean waves, it turned into an “arch”. This is the uniqueness of the Great Ocean Road: the coastline changes so quickly that tomorrow you may no longer see what you saw today. It’s worth driving here not only to admire the scenery, lie on the beach or ride the waves. This is also an Australian safari route: in Warrnambool you can watch the migration of southern right whales, and in the Tower Hill Game Reserve you can walk with kangaroos and emus and look at koalas and seabirds.